Elderly and vulnerable people

Emergency kit and adapted preparedness for the elderly and people who need special attention. Medication, mobility, communication, and support network.

The most vulnerable suffer the most

During Storm Kristin, isolated elderly people went days without electricity, heating, or communication. People with reduced mobility were unable to evacuate. Preparedness for vulnerable people requires specific planning and an active support network.

Critical medication

Medication reserves

  • Keep a 2-4 week reserve of all chronic medication
  • Written list with: drug name, dosage, schedule, prescribing doctor
  • Store medication that needs refrigeration in a cool box with ice
  • Prescriptions in copy (paper and digital)
  • Contact details of the regular pharmacy

Medical equipment

  • Oxygen: spare cylinders, supplier's contact details
  • CPAP/BiPAP: portable battery or compatible power station
  • Wheelchair: check tyres, have a folding manual wheelchair as backup
  • Diabetes: blood glucose meter, test strips, insulin kept cool
  • Dialysis: contact your centre and have an alternative plan

Mobility and evacuation

Adapted evacuation plan

  • Identify all physical barriers: stairs, narrow doors, uneven ground
  • Have at least 2 neighbours or family members who can assist with evacuation
  • Practise the evacuation route with the vulnerable person
  • If you live on a high floor without a lift, have a plan for getting down
  • Keep wheelchair/walking frame/walking stick always within reach
  • Consider a portable ramp if there are steps at the exit

Adapted transport

  • Identify adapted transport services in the area
  • Have the contact details of the local fire brigade for assisted evacuation
  • Keep a child car seat in the car if applicable
  • Agree with car-owning neighbours on who transports whom

Assistance animals during evacuation

Assistance animals (guide dogs, medical alert dogs, etc.) have the legal right to accompany their owner in all locations, including emergency shelters (Decreto-Lei n.o 74/2007, Portuguese assistance animal legislation).

  • Keep the assistance animal's documentation always accessible (ID card, certificate)
  • Include food, water, and a bowl for the animal in the emergency kit
  • Notify the local evacuation centre in advance about the assistance animal
  • Have a backup plan in case the animal gets lost or injured

Adapted communication

For the elderly

  • Simple mobile phone with large buttons, charged and ready
  • Emergency numbers on speed dial (key 1 = 112, key 2 = family member)
  • Contact list in large print on paper, stuck to the wall
  • Battery-powered radio (many elderly people are more comfortable with radios than smartphones)
  • Whistle on a lanyard around the neck to signal for help

For people with disabilities

  • Visual: audible alerts, radio, easy-to-use tactile torch
  • Hearing: visual alerts (flashing light), phone vibration, SNS 24 app (the Portuguese health line, available via text), doorbells with a light flash. Enable emergency alerts on the phone (Settings > Emergency alerts)
  • Cognitive: simple, illustrated instructions, clear routines
  • Assistive devices with charged batteries
  • Medical ID card worn around the neck or wrist

Support network

Build a network before an emergency

  • Identify 2-3 trusted neighbours and exchange contact details
  • Register the vulnerable person with the municipal ANEPC (Civil Protection Authority)
  • Inform the Junta de Freguesia (local parish council)
  • Contact a social worker if needed
  • Set up a check-in system: "If you haven't seen me by 10:00, knock on my door"
  • Share a house key with a trusted person

Registration with Civil Protection

Many municipalities allow you to register vulnerable people for priority evacuation and assistance. Contact your Camara Municipal (city council) or Junta de Freguesia (parish council) to find out how to register elderly people, people with disabilities, or those with special medical needs in your area.

Specific needs

Babies and young children

  • Nappies for 2 weeks
  • Powdered milk / infant formula
  • Baby food and purees
  • Comfort toy
  • Extra warm clothing
  • Car seat

Feeding babies in an emergency

  • Breastfeeding: continue if possible. Stress may temporarily reduce supply, but skin-to-skin contact and frequent feeding help to restore it
  • Infant formula: keep a minimum 2-week reserve. Prepare with boiled water cooled to 70 degrees C
  • Without electricity: boil water on a gas stove or camping stove. Use cold-sterilised bottles (Milton tablets)
  • Baby food: prepare only with verified safe drinking water
  • DO NOT use floodwater, even if boiled, to prepare baby food
  • Disposable bottles: keep 10-20 units as a reserve (more hygienic without access to sterilisation)
  • Store sealed formula tins in a dry, cool place

Pregnant women

  • Obstetrician's contact details written down
  • Alternative maternity unit identified
  • Prenatal vitamins (reserve supply)
  • Emergency birth plan
  • Improvised delivery kit

Chronic conditions

  • Medical ID bracelet or card
  • Action plan for crises (asthma, epilepsy, diabetes)
  • Special dietary foods (gluten-free, diabetic)
  • Specialist's contact details
  • Battery-powered monitoring equipment

Psychological and emotional preparedness

The mind also needs preparation

The psychological impact of a disaster can last longer than the physical impact. Knowing what to expect helps you stay in control.

Before the emergency: preparing the mind

  • Normalise fear: anxiety is useful. Panic is fear without a plan
  • Channel anxiety into action (check your kit, review your plan)
  • 4-7-8 breathing technique: breathe in for 4s, hold for 7s, breathe out for 8s, repeat 4 times. Teach this to the whole family.
  • Positive visualisation: imagine yourself acting calmly
  • Talk with the family without being dramatic

Children in emergencies

Children aged 4-8

  • Use simple language: "There will be a storm, but we are prepared"
  • Do NOT lie. Be honest and reassuring
  • Keep routines (meals, bedtime, stories)
  • Comfort item in the emergency bag
  • Useful activities: "camping" indoors, board games, drawing
  • Signs of stress: regression, nightmares, unusual tantrums
  • Response: more physical contact, validate feelings, stay calm

Children aged 9-14

  • Give age-appropriate factual information, involve them in the preparation
  • Give responsibilities: "You are in charge of the dog's bag"
  • Limit news/social media during the crisis
  • Signs of stress: withdrawal, irritability, drop in school performance
  • Response: be available, normalise emotions, encourage physical activity

During the emergency: staying in control

The adult is the emotional anchor

If the adults panic, everyone panics.

  • Calm leadership: firm tone, short and clear instructions
  • Controlled information: radio 2-3 times a day, NO doom-scrolling
  • Routine within the chaos: keep a schedule even in a shelter
  • Stay occupied: cook, organise, play games
  • Eating and hydration: make yourself eat and drink. Give children chocolate
  • Sleep: take turns on watch, let children sleep as much as possible

After the emergency: recovery

  • First 48 hours: euphoria mixed with exhaustion. Crying is normal. Do not make important decisions
  • First week: irritability, insomnia, replaying events. ALL NORMAL
  • First month: symptoms should decrease. If they worsen, seek professional help

Recognising post-traumatic stress (PTSD)

Seek professional help if after 4 weeks the following persist:

  • Re-experiencing: nightmares, flashbacks, distress from triggers (rain, wind)
  • Avoidance: refusing to go out, avoiding talking about the event
  • Mood changes: emotional numbness, guilt, loss of interest
  • Hyperarousal: insomnia, extreme irritability, being easily startled

In children: repetitive nightmares, obsessive drawings, disproportionate fear.

Grief and loss

  • Loss of home/possessions: this is real grief. Allow sadness. Do not minimise it
  • Loss of a loved one: complicated grief in the context of a disaster
  • Children: honesty, presence, patience

Community support

  • Talking helps. Share your experiences
  • Check on neighbours (elderly, isolated, single parents)
  • Shared meals, rebuilding as therapy
  • Volunteering gives a sense of purpose

Where to find professional help in Portugal

  • SNS 24 (Portuguese National Health Service line): 808 24 24 24, mental health triage, 24/7
  • SOS Voz Amiga (emotional support line): 213 544 545 / 912 802 669 / 963 524 660, 15:30-00:30
  • INEM (National Medical Emergency Institute): psychological support during disasters
  • Ordem dos Psicologos (Portuguese Psychologists Association): ordemdospsicologos.pt, find professionals
  • Centro de Saude (local health centre): psychology consultation via the SNS (through your family doctor)

Asking for help is NOT a weakness

If a broken bone needs a doctor, so does a broken mind.

Useful contacts